Cylindrical washing machine structure and method of making same



March 7, 193 9. H, H. HARLAN CYLINDRICAL WASHING MACHINE STRUCTURE ANDMETHOD OF MAKING SAME 5 sheets shee t 1 Filed Feb. 18, 1936 HOWARD H.I-MRLAN m T n JN N v m m 1 3 M s m .I a Q\ D O M 0 Q M o M D Q o o I D Swm Q/ .Q oh om on m k @N &. E i m G a Q\ R,

ATTORNEY March 7, 1939. HARLAN 2,149,809

CYLINDRICAL WASHING MACHINE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Fi'ledFeb. 18, 1936 5 sheets-Sheet 2 MENTOR I BY HOWARD .H. HARLAN dmv;

ATTORNEY March 7, 1939. H HARLAN 2,149,809

CYLINDHICAL WASHING MACHINE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING $AME FiledFeb. 18, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 f/VVENTOR HOWARD H. I-LARLAN q v ATTORNEYMarch 7, 1939. H. H. HARLAN 2,149,309 CYLINDRICAL WASHING MACHINESTRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME Fi ed Feb. 18/1936 5 SheetsSheet 4 l\D I ATTORNEY March 7, 1939. H. H. HARLAN 2,149,309

CYLINDRICAL WASHING MACHINE STRUCTURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME FiledFeb. 18, 1956' 5 sheets-sheets INVENTUR HOWARD H. HARLAN A VW @761ATTORNZY Patented Mar. 7, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE CYLINDRICALWASHING MACHINE STRUC- TURE AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME.

Delaware Application February 18, 1936, Serial No. 64,423

Claims.

This invention relates to a cylindrical washing machine structure. It isan object of this invention to provide a new and improved method ofconstructing the cylinder of a rotary washing machine in accordance withwhich such cylinders may be made by welding in a more simple andeconomical manner and to provide a cylinder which will be inexpensive toconstruct and which will be rigid and durable.

Cylinders of the character described have presented difiiculties inconstruction by customary welding processes, partly because of theirlarge size and the number of different sizes which are required, andpartly because of the presence of ribs or lifts Within the cylinderwhich interfere with the use of the spot-welding apparatus customarilyused in the construction of common tanks.

- It has heretofore been proposed to construct such a cylinder byextending the walls of the ribs outwardly beyond the periphery of thecylinder walls and to provide an out turned 'flange all along the edgeof the sheet forming the cylinder wall to abutand be riveted to thisoutwardly extending wall. This construction requires a small fillerpiece of a width equal to. the inside of the rib and also havingoutwardly extending flanges .to be welded to the rib wall extension.

This construction is expensive and difiicultand the resulting cylinderhas objectionable projections upon its outer face.

It is an object of this invention to devise a method of constructingsuch a cylinder which will overcome the foregoing difficulties and todevise a cylinder which will be suitable for use in washing machineswhich is capable of construction by simple welding processes withoutelaborate mechanics of prohibitive cost.

The invention accordingly comprises the several steps and the relationand order of one or more of such steps with respect to each of theothers, and the device embodying features of construction, combinationsof elements and arrangements of parts which are adapted to effect suchsteps, all as exemplified in the following detailed disclosure, and thescope of the application of which will be indicated in the claims.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be had to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a front elevation partly in section of a cylinder embodyingmy invention.

a cylinder.

Figure 2 is an end view taken along the line 2--2 of the finishedassembled cylinder, partly in section at small rib.

Figure 3 is a half cross section of the cylinder taken along the line3-3 in Figure l, intended to show the method by which the partition isfastened in the cylinder.

Figure 4 is a view of the spider before assembly.

Figure 5 is a front elevation,'part1y in section of a modified form.

Figure 6 is an end View taken along the line 66 of Figure 5 during theprocess of assembly.

Figure 7 is an exploded fragmentary view showing the manner in which theside wall and ribs are attached to the heads and spider.

In the drawings the numeral l6 designates a plurality, in this instancethree, perforated sheets of metal rolled to the arc of a circle andsupported at their ends by heads H and [2 to form The interior of thecylinder may be divided longitudinally into two or more portions by oneor more transverse partitions I3. Extending longitudinally of thecylinder and spaced around the interior of its periphery are a pluralityof large ribs l4 and a plurality of small ribs l5, which extend the fulllength of the cylinder. Each of these ribs may comprise a sheet of metalbent longitudinally into a channel form. Each leg'of the ribs I4 is bentinwardly as at [4a to form a longitudinal flange and each of the sheetsI0 is designed to extend between and lap upon the nearest flange of eachof two adjacent ribs 14 and to be welded thereto.

Each of the partitions I3 is cut out as shown at 16 in Figure 3 toreceive the ribs I 4 in order that the latter may be continuous from oneend of the cylinder to the other.

The heads are flanged laterally as at Ilia to provide a surface to whichthe ribs may be attached, and each partition may also, if desired, becut out for each of the ribs IE, but I prefer to butt the smaller ribsagainst the partitions as shown at ll.

When the welding is done by the autogenous process, there is provided aplurality of tabs I8 around the periphery of the partition 13, adaptedto fit in a corresponding series of slots l9 upon the metal sheets l0 sothat when the sheets are bentaround the partition, the tabs will extendthrough the slots substantially to the outer face .of the sheet I0.Similarly along the edges of the opening I 6, there is provided aplurality of tabs 26 adapted to fit into slots 21 in the interior of therib I4. I

A triangular opening 24 is located in each end head II, I2, opposite theends of each of the ribs I l. The rib I 4 has the upper portion cut awayto leave a projecting end 24a adapted to extend into this opening. Thisopening 24 is provided with a projecting flange IBa surrounding the endE la of the rib. The head also has a circumferential flange 25 which isadapted for welding to the ends of the sheets II].

A spider 26 is provided at each end of the cylinder fitting up closelywithin the head II or 52 and having a circumferential rim 21 adapted tolie beneath and support the flange 25 of the head to which it may bewelded if desired. The spider 25 is also cut out as shown at 240 topermit the flange Ilia and the projecting end 2411 of the rib to extendthrough it. Preferably this projecting end 24a and the flange I6a arecut low enough to permit the rim 21 to be continuous around thecircumference.

In assembling the cylinder in the form heretofore described, theperforated sheets III are rolled approximately to the arc of thefinished cylinder and one of the smaller ribs I5'is centrally spaced inproper position and welded to the sheet.

Supporting plates 30 for the small ribs I5 are welded to the partitionsI3 and to the inside of the end heads II or I2.

A spider 26 is placed in each of the end heads, I I and I2 so that theprojecting flange I6a of the end head extends through opening 240' ofthe spider and the flange 25 of the end head overlies the flange 21 ofthe spider.

We now proceed to assemble the skeleton.

The large ribs I4 are laid in place within the recesses I6 of thepartitions with the tabs 20 on the partitions extending into the slots2| in the rib and the end heads I I and I2 are moved axially inward sothat the rib ends 2411. extend into the opening 24 in the end heads. Theparts may be held in their assembled position by welding the outer endsof the tabs 20.

The cylindrical sheet ID with the smaller ribs attached as described maynow be put in place, extending circumferentially from one large rib I4to the next. The tabs I8 enter recesses IS in the sheet and are weldedin place. The straight edges of sheet ID are welded through the flangesI la of the ribs. The curved edges of the sheet are welded to the edgesof flanges 25 and 21. The sheets I may, if desired, be joined by fillerstrips 3I to make the outer wall continuous.

The rib end 24a, and the lateral flange I60, of the head are welded tothe spider around the opening 240.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures and 6, the device may beassembled by spot welding. In this form the cylinder may comprise asingle perforate plate IID, although this plate may be formed of aplurality of sections, if desired. This plate is bent to cylindricalform and supported by heads III and divided, if desired, into differentsections by partition I I3. The cylinder is also provided with largeribs H4 and smaller ribs II5 extending longitudinally, each ribcomprising a flat plate bent longitudinally into U shape along itslonger center line.

In accordance with this embodiment, the sheet metal comprising the ribis bent outwardly at its longitudinal edges to provide outwardlyextending flanges I22 and I22a, adapted to bear against the inner faceof the plate I I0, and angle shaped connecting plates or stirrupsI3Ill3|, are welded to the ribs to serve to connect the ribs to theheads and to the partitions. The sheet I I0 is first bent intocylindrical form of a diameter a little greater than the finishedcylinder and the ribs H4 and I I5 are properly spaced upon it and spotwelded to it by the flanges I22-I22a.

The partition H3 and the heads III have circumferential flanges H8 andI25 of an outside diameter equal to the inside diameter of the finishedcylinder.

In assembling the device, if no partition is to be used the sheet III]is wrapped around the heads III, but if a partition is used the sheet isfirst assembled around the partition. In such case the plate III] iswrapped around one of the partitions, if there are several, and theflange H8 is welded to the plate III! by spot welding. Thereupon, theflange of the stirrup I30 and I3I in contact with the partition may beattached to the partition by rivets I32I 33, thus firmly holding theparts together and bracing the cylinder by the ribs. If more than onepartition is to be used, it is attached in a similar manner.

Finally the heads III are inserted with the flanges extending outwardlyand similarly attached. When the. heads are in place, spiders I26 areinserted within the flanges I25 and welded in place. It will beunderstood that in this form some of or all of the rivets I32 whichattach the flanges of the stirrups I38 upon the ends of the ribs to thehead, will pass through the spider I26, thus transmitting the drivingtorque direct to the ribs.

In either construction, the plate III or III! will be provided with afilling opening 34, guides for sliding doors may consist of groovedpieces such as 33, which may be plates welded together and welded to thecurved sheet adjacent to the opening, either before or after assemblingthe cylinder.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process and certainmodifications in the article which embody the invention may be madewithout departing from its scope, it is intended that all mattercontained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawingsshall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is:

1. The method of making a washing machine cylinder divided into aplurality of compartments which comprises welding to the interior of aperforate sheet bent to form a cylindrical wall, a plurality of ribs allof a length equal to the interior of each of said compartments,inserting a partition within said sheet between the adjacent ends ofsaid ribs, said partition having a peripheral flange, closing said sheetabout said partition and welding the said flange to said sheet andfastening the ends of said ribs to said partition and thereafterinserting heads in the ends of the cylinder so formed and attaching thesame to the ribs and welding the periphery of said heads to the saidsheet.

2. The method of making a washing machine cylinder divided into aplurality of compartments which comprises forming a sheet into acylindrical wall, providing a plurality of ribs all of a length equal tothe interior of each of said com- ,partments, inserting a partitionwithin said sheet between the adjacent ends of said ribs, said partitionhaving a peripheral flange, closing said sheet about said partition andwelding the said flange to said sheet and fastening the ends of saidribs to said partition and thereafter inserting heads in the ends of thecylinder so formed and welding the periphery of said heads to saidsheet, applying a spider to the ends of said heads and attaching theends of said ribs and said spider to said heads by a common attachingmeans.

3. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a cylindrical sheet, aplurality of ribs attached longitudinally to said sheet, each of saidribs being cut back at its ends adjacent to said sheet to provide spacefor the circumferential flange of an end member and having a projectingend within said flange and extending outwardly beyond the cut awayportion and an end member having an opening to receive said projectingend of said rib.

4. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a cylindrical sheet, aplurality of ribs attached longitudinally to said sheet, each of saidribs being cut back at its ends adjacent to said sheet to provide spacefor the circumferential flange of an end member and having a projectingend within said flange and extending outwardly beyond the cut awayportion and an end member having an opening to receive said projectingend of said rib, said end member comprising a head having a continuouscircumferential flange fitting the interior of said cylindrical sheet,and a spider having a flange fitting within the flange on said member,said flanges being welded together and to said sheet, and said spiderbeing directly connected to said ribs.

5. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a pair of heads, a pluralityof ribs attached to said heads to connect them to form a frame, acylindrical sheet attached to said frame having a set of perforations ona transverse line between its ends and a partition having notches tocorrespond to the ribs and having tabs on its periphery fitting withinsaid perforations and welded to the edges thereof.

6. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a pair of heads, a pluralityof ribs attached to said heads to connect them to form a frame, acylindrical sheet attached to said frame having a set of perforations ona transverse line between its ends and a partition having notches tocorrespond to the ribs and having tabs on its periphery fitting withinsaid perforations and welded to the edges thereof, said ribs having aset of perforations on a line corresponding to the position of saidpartition and said partition having valso a series of tabs fittingwithin said perforations in said rib and welded thereto.

7. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a pair of heads, each havinga continuous circumferential flange and a U shaped opening inside ofsaid flange, ribs extending between said heads fitting within saidopenings and welded thereto and having the longitudinal edges of saidribs extending upwardly and inwardly toward each other in the samecylindrical surface as the circumferential flange on said heads and anouter arcuate sheet overlying the adjacent flanges on adjacent ribs andthe circumferential flanges on said heads and welded thereto.

8. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a pair of heads, each havinga continuous circumferential flange and a U shaped opening inside ofsaid flange, ribs extending between said heads fitting within saidopenings and welded thereto and having the longitudinal edges of saidribs bent inwardly toward each other in the same cylindrical surface asthe circumferential flange on said heads and an outer arcuate sheetoverlying and welded to the adjacent flanges on adjacent ribs andoverlying and welded to the flanges on said heads, and a spider adjacentto said head, each spider having an arm extending to each rib and havinga U shaped opening, said head having a flange surrounding the openingtherein and extending through the opening in said arm and closelyembracing the end of said rib and welded to both.

9. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a pair of heads, each havinga continuous circumferential flange and a U shaped opening inside ofsaid flange, ribs extending between said heads fitting within saidopenings and welded thereto and having the longitudinal edges of saidribs bent inwardly toward each other in the same cylindrical surface asa circumferential flange on said heads and an outer arcuate sheetoverlying and welded to the adjacent flanges on adjacent ribs andoverlying and welded to the flanges on said heads,'and a spider adjacentto said head, each spider having an arm extending to each rib and havinga U shaped opening, said head having a flange surrounding the openingtherein and extending through the opening in said arm and closelyembracing the end of said rib and welded thereto, and said spider armhaving a circumferential flange closing the opening therein and paralleland adjacent to the flange in said head, said arcuate sheet, saidflanges on said head and said flanges on said arm being welded together.

10. A welded cylinder for washers comprising a pair of heads each havinga circumferentially continuous flange, a rib extending between saidheads and fitting into an opening in each, and welded thereto, said ribhaving its longitudinal edges bent inwardly to form flanges extendingtoward each other, said flanges on said rib and on said heads lying in acylindrical surface, arcuate sheets overlying said flanges and weldedalong its ends to the flanges on said head and on its longitudinal edgesto the flanges on said ribs, said arcuate sheets having a transverseline of perforations intermediate its ends and a partition havingnotches to receive said ribs and having tabs on its periphery fittingwithin said perforations and welded to the edges thereof.

HOWARD H. HARLAN.

